Contributors, benefactors praise program designed to help struggling families

A private-public nonprofit partnership initiative, which for the past six months has helped several formerly homeless heads of household, is making a difference, leaders of the effort and program participants said Friday during an upbeat breakfast at SER-Jobs for Progress Inc., the initiative’s sponsor.

A private-public nonprofit partnership initiative, which for the past six months has helped several formerly homeless heads of household, is making a difference, leaders of the effort and program participants said Friday during an upbeat breakfast at SER-Jobs for Progress Inc., the initiative’s sponsor.

Without such collaborative efforts, said Susan Beaton, whose Paul and Phyllis Fireman Foundation donated $100,000 to the cause, “You’re always going to be spinning your wheels.”

Maria Ferreira-Bedard, director of the SER-Jobs young parents program, said the HomeBASE program in the Fall River, Taunton, New Bedford and Attleboro areas is striving to promote self-sufficiency, provide two years of rental assistance and help the heads of household secure stable jobs and housing.

“Housing first,” said Carl Nagy-Koechlin, executive director of the private nonprofit South Shore Housing program that donated $150,000 to the initiative.

SSH administers the program implemented by the Justice Resource Institute, offering short-term rental assistance for up to two years for an umbrella program to assist homeless families.

“We knew we needed partnerships to do the second piece, jobs,” Nagy-Koechlin said.

Thus far, SER-Jobs has 70 people enrolled and has placed 25 people into jobs, the second priority after housing.

Two single female heads of household, Samantha Irons of Fall River, a mother of two small children; and Jamila Wade of Middleboro, a mother of four with two entering college, spoke emotionally about being homeless and jobless and caring for their children.

Both also shared good news: Irons secured her second internship in the office of Mayor Will Flanagan on Thursday, while Wade had a job interview with South Shore Housing on Friday morning.

Irons, who lives with a son, 2, and daughter, 6, recalled being evicted from her home.

“I was terrified, and I felt completely alone,” she told an audience of about 50 people that included other HomeBASE participants.

The most applause rang out when Irons described her “angels” at SER-Jobs, who, when she “slips and falls,” show Irons she “has the strength to get out of the mess that I’ve been in.”

Wade — the mother of children ages 9, 13, 17 and 18 — said she fell apart after her marriage of 13 years ended in divorce.

While living in a motel with her children in 2011, after losing their house because of being unable to pay the mortgage, Wade said meeting SER-Jobs case worker Tracey Pina in Taunton made her realize: “The person that’s going to help me most is me.”

But at times, she said, “I felt like a complete failure.”

Aaron Gornstein, state Department of Housing and Community Development undersecretary, said around 500 families are participating in HomeBASE in five areas, including the SouthCoast and Brockton.

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The assistance includes a $4,000 household stipend for 12 months.

Gornstein said available affordable housing actually suffers in a stronger economy, when rents rise and availability dips.

He praised the agencies and partners on the front lines, working to help families that often include single mothers obtain jobs, keep their homes and improve the quality of their lives.

“I recognize the issues,” Mayor Will Flanagan said, “and I’m committed to working with all of you here. It’s no easy task. Your work is not going unnoticed.”

He noted an often-stated theme of helping heads of household find “self-esteem and hope” with the varied services over a sustained period.

“It makes my day to know these are people whose lives are improving,” Benton said.

Pina said that, based on the 70 heads of household from homeless families they’ve enrolled, SER-Jobs and their partners expect to service well over the goal of 85 by March 2015.

BayCoast Bank and the Bristol County Savings Bank Charitable Foundation also provided grants to the program.

In addition, the operators of Rob Roy Academy on South Main Street said they will offer free haircuts and manicures to program participants preparing for job interviews.